bookgazing (
bookgazing) wrote2010-09-29 12:38 am
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Bright and Warm Like a Fire - TV On a Dark Night
As everyone who works a 9-5 job knows, tv can become an important part of your end of day routine. Life feels less than fun when the schedule looks gloomy and you end up watching repeats of DIY SOS because your brain doesn’t want to read a book. I’ve had speedway on Sky Sports to keep me entertained but drama wise the last two months have been a bust. I’ve just been sitting around , waiting for the announcement of more Sherlock, hanging on for Christmas Dr Who and rationing my DVD supplies (PS I bought The Vampire diaries Series 1).
Suddenly tv is getting its act together:
Spooks, Series 9: Last week saw the return of Spooks. Spooks political storyline component has been lacking the brilliance of early series for a few years now. Still, the action always feel tense, even if the shows long running political storylines and immediate threat plots have lacked some believability and internal consistency. On the other hand the personal drama of the series always feels solid and it doesn’t matter how many characters they kill off, or how many main characters turn out to have awful secrets I almost never see their dramatic plans coming. It’s like 24 where women are actually allowed to be cool and capable (#IstillloveyouJackBauer). Season 9 has opened with a doozy of a teaser reveal about Lucas North and a fantastic ‘the iron hand of Harry Pearce’ scene. There’s also a new female character played by an actress I love in everything she does (trying not to spoil because I know at least one person who sometimes reads here watches the series when they arrive in the US).
Life Unexpected: When I saw the trailers featuring Liz Parker, previously of Roswell and Jack, previously of Dawson’s Creek I knew I was going to try and make it through this series even if it was schmaltzy. Surprise, the dialogue is snarky and sharp in places (there’s a little schmaltz and some well worn jokes, but this is a family drama so I forgive it). There are funny pieces that switch your impressions of the characters, for example when Lux claimed she hated YouTube I thought she was going to be one of those teens, who is smarter than the average teen, but then she watches the video about Christian the lion and they all tear up and she admits she likes some of YouTube - yay. The pilot suggests this will be an intelligent look at real, messy lives and relationships. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how a relationship might work between a mother who gave up her daughter, a father who didn’t know he had a kid and a teenager who has basically looked after herself since she could walk. I am concerned about the love triangle set up, we will see how that goes. I am voting for Jack to not be made jerkish to justify Liz (I will be calling them by their old screen names in my head) going off with clearly less attractive, immature ex-quarterback guy – a proper, hard choice between two equally cool guys would make my day.
Downton Abbey: From the writer of Gosford Park comes a new drama along the same classily shot upstairs downstairs lines, without the same kind of film star quality among the servants. There is abundant top tv talent among the downstairs cast though and the renowned Maggie Smith is the upper class family matriarch, with a few tv/film crossover actors and actresses making up the rest of her family. I wasn’t convinced at first. ‘Downton Abbey’ was commissioned by ITV, who tend to suck at costume dramas compared to BBC. There are ad breaks which can break the mood and it takes a few segments to really get into who the characters are. However, by the end of an hour and a half episode I was sold so hard. I love EVERYONE in this show. And there will be romance between Anna and Bates despite their age difference I hope.
And Liam from Corrie (debatably the hottest guy ever on Corrie, at least in the top 5) in footman livery happily kissing a hot, evil duke and being upset about being betrayed in love and failing to safeguard his position enough was excellent. Julian Fellowes have you possibly written a footman romance between him and William, even though hot Liam (or Thomas, whatever – will they get him a cute black Labrador puppy in this program too, it is the ultimate Liam accessory) is kind of schemerey and evil? I fear not – I fear there will be misery and abuse of affections and evil, but hot footmen being sacked at the end of the series, or nothing at all (ITV you do not have the best track record with happy endings for major gay storylines), but I hold out hopes. Also men cry in private in this series and are stoic and hardworking in public. The male head of the house is both progressive in some areas and incredibly unable to see his privilege in others. The costuming is gorgeous, especially (and this feels wrong to say) the mourning dresses for the young sisters. Love, it is in the air ITV, you may yet win me over.
Now all I need to do is catch up on True Blood series 2 and I will have a proper drama season ahead of me. I am very much hoping to see Hellcats appear on UK shores soon, after hearing lots about it during Karen Healeys reviewathon last week, but I can wait a while now. Oh and there will be a new instalment of the Whitechapel mini drama, which looks excellent. I will possibly watch Aftermath, the two part drama about Stephen Tompkinson as a police officer looking for missing girls, just to see if he can do it (I love him, but really, a crime drama? It might be worse than John Hannah as Rebus).
To see what others are looking forward to this autumn tv series check out:
My Friend Amy’s post (Gossip Girl – they put it on at such funny times over here that I always miss it now and why is it on ITV3 not proper ITV – see ITV this is why we don’t get along).
Asking the Wrong Questions post (not excited about Hellcats).
Suddenly tv is getting its act together:
Spooks, Series 9: Last week saw the return of Spooks. Spooks political storyline component has been lacking the brilliance of early series for a few years now. Still, the action always feel tense, even if the shows long running political storylines and immediate threat plots have lacked some believability and internal consistency. On the other hand the personal drama of the series always feels solid and it doesn’t matter how many characters they kill off, or how many main characters turn out to have awful secrets I almost never see their dramatic plans coming. It’s like 24 where women are actually allowed to be cool and capable (#IstillloveyouJackBauer). Season 9 has opened with a doozy of a teaser reveal about Lucas North and a fantastic ‘the iron hand of Harry Pearce’ scene. There’s also a new female character played by an actress I love in everything she does (trying not to spoil because I know at least one person who sometimes reads here watches the series when they arrive in the US).
Life Unexpected: When I saw the trailers featuring Liz Parker, previously of Roswell and Jack, previously of Dawson’s Creek I knew I was going to try and make it through this series even if it was schmaltzy. Surprise, the dialogue is snarky and sharp in places (there’s a little schmaltz and some well worn jokes, but this is a family drama so I forgive it). There are funny pieces that switch your impressions of the characters, for example when Lux claimed she hated YouTube I thought she was going to be one of those teens, who is smarter than the average teen, but then she watches the video about Christian the lion and they all tear up and she admits she likes some of YouTube - yay. The pilot suggests this will be an intelligent look at real, messy lives and relationships. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how a relationship might work between a mother who gave up her daughter, a father who didn’t know he had a kid and a teenager who has basically looked after herself since she could walk. I am concerned about the love triangle set up, we will see how that goes. I am voting for Jack to not be made jerkish to justify Liz (I will be calling them by their old screen names in my head) going off with clearly less attractive, immature ex-quarterback guy – a proper, hard choice between two equally cool guys would make my day.
Downton Abbey: From the writer of Gosford Park comes a new drama along the same classily shot upstairs downstairs lines, without the same kind of film star quality among the servants. There is abundant top tv talent among the downstairs cast though and the renowned Maggie Smith is the upper class family matriarch, with a few tv/film crossover actors and actresses making up the rest of her family. I wasn’t convinced at first. ‘Downton Abbey’ was commissioned by ITV, who tend to suck at costume dramas compared to BBC. There are ad breaks which can break the mood and it takes a few segments to really get into who the characters are. However, by the end of an hour and a half episode I was sold so hard. I love EVERYONE in this show. And there will be romance between Anna and Bates despite their age difference I hope.
And Liam from Corrie (debatably the hottest guy ever on Corrie, at least in the top 5) in footman livery happily kissing a hot, evil duke and being upset about being betrayed in love and failing to safeguard his position enough was excellent. Julian Fellowes have you possibly written a footman romance between him and William, even though hot Liam (or Thomas, whatever – will they get him a cute black Labrador puppy in this program too, it is the ultimate Liam accessory) is kind of schemerey and evil? I fear not – I fear there will be misery and abuse of affections and evil, but hot footmen being sacked at the end of the series, or nothing at all (ITV you do not have the best track record with happy endings for major gay storylines), but I hold out hopes. Also men cry in private in this series and are stoic and hardworking in public. The male head of the house is both progressive in some areas and incredibly unable to see his privilege in others. The costuming is gorgeous, especially (and this feels wrong to say) the mourning dresses for the young sisters. Love, it is in the air ITV, you may yet win me over.
Now all I need to do is catch up on True Blood series 2 and I will have a proper drama season ahead of me. I am very much hoping to see Hellcats appear on UK shores soon, after hearing lots about it during Karen Healeys reviewathon last week, but I can wait a while now. Oh and there will be a new instalment of the Whitechapel mini drama, which looks excellent. I will possibly watch Aftermath, the two part drama about Stephen Tompkinson as a police officer looking for missing girls, just to see if he can do it (I love him, but really, a crime drama? It might be worse than John Hannah as Rebus).
To see what others are looking forward to this autumn tv series check out:
My Friend Amy’s post (Gossip Girl – they put it on at such funny times over here that I always miss it now and why is it on ITV3 not proper ITV – see ITV this is why we don’t get along).
Asking the Wrong Questions post (not excited about Hellcats).